Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud has urged bush businesses to review their postal rates to make sure they’re getting a fair deal after the rural MP called out Australia Post for slapping country customers with unfair prices.
“A local business owner showed me their Australia Post contract, clearly illustrating large inconsistencies in pricing between regional and capital city parcel postage – an appalling discrepancy which puts bush businesses on the back foot, especially during COVID when customers are looking to online purchases,” Mr Littleproud said.
“I got Australia Post and the small business owner in the same room and Australia Post agreed to a better postage rate – this is a win but how many other rural businesses are out there copping this cost increase on the chin? I’m calling for Maranoa businesses to review their postage rates and contact me if they’re getting a raw deal so I can help to replicate this success and get a better postage deal for other rural businesses”.
Mr Littleproud said the Maranoa business owner showed him their parcel cost increase for regional, rural and remote areas increased 20 to 40%, not the 13.49% Australia Post suggested.
“He detailed one example where it was cheaper to post a 10kg parcel across Australia from Brisbane to Adelaide – a 2004km distance – than it was post the same parcel down the road 417km from Warwick to Tamworth merely because the ‘capital rate’ is much cheaper compared with the ‘remote rate’ – this is rubbish and I won’t stand for it,” he said.
Australia Post has committed to review its pricing architecture to support all businesses as a result of Mr Littleproud’s advocacy.
“I’ll always fight for our bush businesses to ensure they receive fair treatment. This is just one example of a decision made in the city that unfairly impacted regional and rural businesses,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Bush businesses have already endured countless financial hurdles through drought and Covid-19, and are now potentially facing a huge mark-up on postage, seemingly based purely on their location.
“Australia Post indicated this individual contract was not reflective of wider regional areas, but I question why it was structured in a way that benefits the city and punishes the bush in the first place.
“I contacted Australia Post to raise my concerns and to try to get an understanding of why this contract showed such different rates for regional sending compared to capital sending.
“As a result of my representation, Australia Post offered this particular business an improved rate for his regional to regional sending and have reduced price points from 152 to 24 – I now ask other small businesses to check their contracts too to make sure they’re not being taken for a ride by Australia Post”.
